Sunday, February 7, 2021

Sampler progress...

This week was another busy week in which I'm choosing to focus on what was good - even with its challenges.  Perhaps the best thing was seeing a little crafting time in the evenings - mostly cross stitching and knitting dishcloths.  It may not seem significant, but I'm happy to report that I finished Part 3 of the 2020 Mystery SAL hosted by Linen & Threads.

This first picture is where I left off on this design in December:


And this is what it looks like today:



I'm really hoping this is the largest single design on this sampler.  It was quite a job to finish it. 

And that's it craft-wise for me.  I actually found a little time this week to declutter and even wrote a Making Space post, but I couldn't find time to take a picture and post it.  The upcoming week is forecasted to be a bit snowy and then bitter, so hopefully I'll find myself at home with more time to pop in and record some progress on the decluttering front.

I hope you all have a great week ahead.  Even though wintry weather looks to be ahead here in Indiana, I'm focusing on spring being not too far behind it. 😎







34 comments:

  1. So lovely! I can't wait to see the finished sampler. It seems like the decluttering bug has gotten to everyone this week, feels good to get it done, doesn't it?

    Cheers for a great week ahead!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I looking forward to seeing this finished, too. :) I was on a decluttering journey since last October, I think, but I got sidelined the last couple of months. Hopefully, I'll be back at it regularly soon.

      Delete
  2. I really like the sampler. Does it only use 1 color of floss? I would think that would be so fun to do that way. Changing colors is probably the thing that really slows me down.

    Dishcloths are always a perfect project to do when you life is in a bit of a whirlwind.

    Congrats on getting a bit of decluttering done. Baby steps is all it takes.

    Our weather is already at spring. By the time you hit spring we will be in full on summer mode.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. People have done this sampler different ways. I'd say most poeple have used more than one color, and most who used one color, used overdyed floss so there is some variation in their colors. I'm really happy I went with one color for this as it makes it much simpler, I don't spend any time second-guessing color-placements, and I think I'm going to like it when it's all finished. And yes, dishcloth knitting satisfies a desire to do something simple and relatively quickly, and helps me bust through my too-large cotton stash. :)

      Delete
  3. The sampler is going to be so pretty. It is definitely hard not to focus on spring once it gets close to Valentine's Day for me. I am planning flowers and so forth. I made another small list of cleaning and sorting for this week since it is to be cold here as well. Mostly in my crafting cabinets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sandy. We're headed into some sub-zero temps later in the week. I'm really hoping to not have to go anywhere once those temps settle in. It appears they may only stick around through next weekend, and then we're back in the 30's during the day, and 20's at night. I have a feeling the 30's will feel balmy after next weekend. :)

      Delete
  4. lovely, lovely sampler, and beautiful colours too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your sampler is beautiful. I am not wishing for Spring yet...winter is when I really get things done around here inside! LOL! I am de-cluttering and throwing out and recycling. I imagine I will be doing this for the rest of my life now! LOL! Stay safe and stay well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sam. You are one of the most productive people I know - in any season. :) I need to catch up with what you've been up to the last few weeks. I haven't managed to keep up lately, but you are a continual inspiration to me.

      Delete
  6. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the high contrast sampler you are working on! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lovely needlework!
    Our weather forecast is much the same here this week. All is not winter, though, as the days are noticeably longer. Spring is nearer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! I've taken notice that the days are longer and it makes me smile when I see daylight still at nearly 6pm. It has been such a mild winter here, I cannot complain, so I embrace the frigid forecast and whistle inside at the thought that spring is right around the corner! :)

      Delete
  8. I am so freaking glad not to be up north this winter. Cinci hasn't had it too bad but still much worse than the 70s here in Naples. NEVER thought I'd want to be a snowbirder (and my kids teased me today about that on our Zoom call) but so glad my husband convinced me to try it.

    I suspect it must be a lot of fun to see designs materialize with cross stitch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a sister in Naples and she likes to tell me how beautiful Florida is right now. I don't doubt it! :) Enjoy your stay!

      Delete
  9. That cross-stitch is so lovely. I am glad you had time to work on it this week. I hope you are taking care of yourself and I am sure the sunny days are helping to remind us all that spring is coming. It always does. Blessings to you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's hard to truly take good care of myself right now, in all honesty. I keep thinking "next month I'll have time for..." whatever it is. I do need to find small easy ways to be healthy right now. Not just physically, but emotionally too. OTOH, I need to not let failure in this area stress me. The word "grace" is at the forefront of my thinking these days. Grace for others, grace for myself. Thanks for the encouragement, Mary-Anne.

      Delete
  10. I love that red and white cross stitch -- so classic and elegant! Having your time taken with decluttering is definitely a good reason, kudos.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your stitching sampler is gorgeous - I love it in the single colour.
    Have a safe week.

    ReplyDelete
  12. That sampler is beautiful, good for you for managing to do some decluttering my intentions are still good but I always seem to find something else to do instead. It's snowing here and bitterly cold as I write this good excuse for more crafting. Have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah yes... always something else to do. Something more interesting, more urgent, more enjoyable... :) Tomorrow is a snowy day and I have nowhere I have to be, so I really have no excuse. Let's see what comes of that!

      Delete
  13. I must say I find that single color cross stitch project very appealing - just as appealing as a multiple color project but I would think easier than color changing all the time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely easier. I think for the first time in perhaps... EVER, I've not second-guessed this choice. :)

      Delete
  14. I don’t recall how many parts your sampler has in total but I’m really looking forward to the big reveal photo of it all finished. It’s so interesting seeing the detail in the one colour, it really does show the design details really well. I was going to have a day off decluttering yesterday but as I was sitting knitting my bookcase was taunting me so I thinned out some gardening and travel books. I think I’m actually addicted to decluttering!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are twelve parts (one for each month) and there may be some smaller motifs added at some point as I'm not putting in friends' and family's initials. I want to get back to being addicted to declutter. I remember that feeling...

      Delete
  15. Wow! That is so pretty! I am not at all busy these dreary days. I am thinking Spring though. Dreaming of greens and yellows. Maybe a bouquet of daffodils would help. I will look for some at the supermarket today. 💖

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But you do have some beautiful scenery. February is the dreariest month of the year here in Indiana. It helps that my middle son was born in February, and it helps that March is on the heels of February, but otherwise... there's not much about February in Indiana that I have to recommend. Except for that it's short. There is that. :)

      Delete
  16. I love your sampler! (I've probably said it before, and I'll probably say it again!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can say it as many times as you want, Cheryl. :) Thank you!

      Delete
  17. You've made good progress on your sampler - it's looking great! I would love to do a sampler one day but I never seem to get the time to even go so far as to decide on a pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Lovely how this red pops against the white. Sarah of Stitch and Stuff is making a blue one from a magazine pattern.

    ReplyDelete